US tells Syria to take 'immediate action' to remove chemical weapons

Euronews

The United States has told Syria to take immediate action to comply with a UN
resolution to remove its chemical weapons materials. The toxic arsenal is due to be destroyed under an international deal.

US Defence Secretary, Chuck Hagel, said: “The United States is concerned that the Syrian government is behind in delivering these chemical weapons and precursor materials on time and with the schedule that was agreed to.”

Syria has moved the first batch of chemical weapon materials out of the country after transporting it from two sites to the port city of Latakia and onto a Danish vessel. The process slowed down due to security concerns.

A statement by the US to the chemicals weapons watchdog in The Hague, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said just four percent of the chemicals declared by Syria had been removed.